A Simple Way of Hygroscopic Testing for Humidity

A simple way of testing hygroscopic testing for humidity that can absorb water from the
atmosphere is using only a very simple tools. Follow the nature school’s project.

Nature School – Hygroscopic materials absorb water from the atmosphere. Therefore, on a rainy day
you may find it difficult to pour salt from a shaker unless rice has been added to the shaker to keep
the salt dry.

In previous experiments, we have studied how to predict the weather based on chemical
processes. Nature school will show you a simple way to test for humidity hygroscopic using
a simple hygrometer.
In this project, you will use the water-absorbing property of hygroscopic materials to make a
hygrometer, an instrument that measures humidity. You will study the effect of humidity on
different textures of hair and various materials. You will also examine the formula for hydrated and
anhydrous crystals as well as the quantity of water that different hygroscopic materials can absorb.

Leaning Objectives

To make and use a hair hygrometer to determine changes in the humidity of air.

Materials

ruler scissors 4-×-10-inch (10-×-25-cm) piece of cardboard

pencil

tissue paper 6-inch (15-cm) straight strand of hair (not treated chemically by perming, straightening,
and/or coloring)

glue

pushpin

marking pen

masking tape

2-liter plastic soda bottle

Procedure

1. Measure and cut out a 2-×-8-inch (5-cm×-20-cm) section from the center of the piece of
cardboard.

2. Draw and cut out an arrow 2 inches (5 cm) long from the tissue paper.

3. Lay the end of the hair strand on the tip of the arrow. Place glue on a small piece of tissue paper
and press it to the arrow's tip so that the end of the hair strand is sandwiched between the arrow tip
and the tissue paper.

4. Use the point of the pushpin to make an enlarged hole in the blunt end of the arrow. The hole
should be large enough for the arrow to rotate easily on the pin.

5. With the point of the pushpin through the hole in the arrow, insert the pin into the cardboard (see
Figure above).
6. Use a small piece of tissue paper with glue on it to stick the other end of the hair strand to the top
of the cardboard.

7. Hold the cardboard vertically. Adjust the length of the hair strand so that the arrow hangs
horizontally.

8. Mark a line on the cardboard where the arrow points to show when the arrow is level.

9. Tape the pencil to the top of the cardboard.

10. Cut off the top of the plastic soda bottle and hang the cardboard inside so that the pencil rests
across the bottle and supports the cardboard.

11. Place the bottle near an open window or in a garage where outside air can reach it.

12. For two weeks, make daily observations of the position of the arrow.

13. Construct a data table such as the one shown here.

Data Table
Date Position of Arrow Relative Humadity

a. Record a + (plus sign) when the arrow moves above the level mark and a - (minus sign) when the
arrow falls below the level mark.

b. Contact the local weather bureau daily for an accurate relative humidity report.

Results

The arrow moves up when the relative humidity is low, and it moves down when the relative
humidity is high.

Why?

Humidity is the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. Relative humidity is the measurement of
how much water the air holds at a given temperature. When air holds all of the water that it can at a
given temperature, it is saturated and the relative humidity is 100 percent. A hygrometer is used to
measure changes in humidity.

Hygroscopic materials take up water vapor from the air. If the materials dissolve in the water
absorbed from the air and form a solution, they are called deliquescent. Other materials, like the
strand of hair used in this experiment, are insoluble in water but hold the water in their pores and
imperfections. The changes in the humidity of air are measured by the hair hygrometer. As the
humidity increases, the hair holds more water and stretches. With a lower humidity, the hair dries
and shrinks. The stretching and the shrinking of the strand of hair cause the paper arrow to move up
and down.

Try New Approaches

1. Does the length of the hair strand affect the results? Repeat the experiment two times, first using
a 4- inch (10-cm) strand of hair, and then using an 8-inch (20-cm) strand of hair.
2. Does color affect the hygroscopic nature of hair? Repeat the original experiment using strands of
hair of different natural colors. Science Fair Hint: Display the hygrometer models along with the
results of each test.

3. How does chemical treatment of hair such as perming, straightening, and/or coloring affect its
hygroscopic property? Repeat the original experiment using a chemically treated hair sample from a
beauty salon patron or from an acquaintance. Compare the distances that the arrow moves on the
hygrometer made with treated hair with the distances of the arrow on the original hygrometer.

Design Your Own Experiment

1a. Do the stretching and the shrinking of hair due to its hygroscopic property change the shape of
the hair strand? Hold a clean hair strand between your thumb and forefinger. Use a hair dryer to dry
the strand of hair. To make the strand easier to see, hold it next to, but not touching, a sheet of
paper. Use a spray bottle to very lightly mist the hair strand with water. Again hold the hair next to
the paper and observe its shape. (The author's hair strand changed from a wavy shape to a spiral
one.) Test different hair shapes. Do curly strands get curlier?

b. Does hair spray prevent the hair from absorbing water? Repeat this experiment using strands of
hair that have been sprayed with hair spray. Allow the spray to dry thoroughly about 2 minutes
before misting the hair with water.

c. What is the effect of humidity on silk and wool, which, like human hair, are hygroscopic? Repeat
this experiment using silk thread and strands of wool yarn. You could display drawings of the
changes in shape of each type of strand.

2. Sodium chloride (table salt) is deliquescent. Use this chemical to test the humidity of the air by
placing 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of salt on a saucer near an open window so that the crystals are
exposed to the outside air (see Figure above). For two weeks, use a magnifying lens to make daily
observations of the appearance of the surface of the crystals. Do changes in the relative humidity
affect the appearance of the crystals?

Get the Facts

1. How much water can a deliquescent material absorb? Use a chemistry text to find out more about
deliquescent materials. What is vapor pressure? How does the water vapor pressure of a solution
and the partial pressure of water vapor in the air control the amount of water absorbed by
deliquescent chemicals?

2. How do chemical formulas of hydrated chemicals differ from those of anhydrous chemicals? Use a
chemistry text to find the formulas of chemicals that exist in hydrated and anhydrous forms, such as
cobalt (II) chloride and copper (II) sulfate.